Cortisol levels on prednisone

[UnXmas]

Sorry to start another thread on this drug!

I understand that some of the side effects of pred are a result of cortisol levels being too high and that this is called Cushing's syndrome.

I have a couple of the symptoms of Cushing's as a result of pred, and I was wondering how this is assessed - or if it even needs to be.

I had a look online and it seems like there isn't a quick test to assess your cortisol levels. There's mentions of 24 hour tests and urine tests and all sorts of complicated things. But it also seemed like a lot of these tests are to try to find out the cause of Cushing's. So if you know your symptoms are a result of taking prednisone, can you just have a blood test done to determine if your cortisol level is too high?

I ask because I'm hoping to get as much as my care from my local doctor as possible and keep hospital/specialist visits to a minium.

I'm having an appointment in a few weeks and wondered if they will be able to do a simple test to tell me if my cortisol is too high or not.

Oh, just to add: I'm concerned about this because I already have osteoporosis. Since Cushing's causes osteoporosis, I thought I should know whether I'm just getting symptoms/side effects or whether my levels of cortisol are actually being messed up.

 

[Jennifer]

Hi UnXmas, sorry for the late response.

Mayo Clinic has a lot of information on what questions to ask your doctor, how to test for it and how it can be treated. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cushings-syndrome/DS00470/DSECTION=preparing-for-your-appointment I'd read through all the sections.

I don't think I was ever tested for it but I did have the obvious signs and so did my sister with the moon face, stretchmarks, upper back hump and easy bruising. I think I also had issues with bone loss as a kid from being on Prednisone for so long. Since I've stopped Prednisone all those symptoms went away. Are you still taking steroids? If not when did you stop completely?

 

[UnXmas]

Thanks for the reply and the link. I think is just one I'll just have to ask my doctors about. I just end up overthinking these things in between appointments.

I'm still on prednisone but no longer at the dose I started at. It's worked so well, though, and given me so much energy. The plan was for it to be a very short term thing, but now I'm wondering whether that is the best idea. I'm sure doctors will still say it has to be a short term drug because of the risks that come long-term. I am getting some hair growth and skin changes but not the other Cushing's symptoms. Whether the presence of symptoms correlates with levels of cortisol and risk of osteoporosis though... who knows. I think probably even doctors couldn't say for sure in an individual patient.